An MAA day learning about Rolls-Royce Indirect Purchasing

50 MAA members learned what it takes to supply indirect products and services to a global competitor like Rolls-Royce at the latest “Inside . . . with the MAA” event.

Our hosts were Dean Fell, Head of Category Management, Group Indirect Purchasing, Rolls-Royce and Wendy Stopher, Head of Group Purchasing, Rolls-Royce and Director, Midlands Aerospace Alliance. The keynote presentation was made by Gordon Tytler, Director of Purchasing, Rolls-Royce.

Indirect Purchasing is responsible for buildings, machines and tools, consumables, engineering services, consulting, IT, office equipment and many other services. At major companies like Rolls-Royce, Indirect Purchasing can be as much as 25-30% of total external spend. At Rolls-Royce it accounts for more than £2bn of expenditure annually. Half the MAA's 300 members focus on the supply of indirect goods and services to the aerospace industry.

What we learned

This one-day intensive site visit for a strictly limited group was designed to make sure MAA members -- as aerospace suppliers or potential aerospace suppliers -- have the knowledge they need to meet the indirect purchasing requirements of global companies such as Rolls-Royce.

Participants learned that the approach to indirect purchasing at Rolls-Royce is currently undergoing major reform, making this an apt time to learn more about the drivers and direction of the change programme.

Participants were given:

in-depth knowledge about the structure of Indirect Purchasing at Rolls-Royce relevant to potential suppliers.

a thorough understanding of how the Indirect Purchasing function operates and makes decisions.

opportunities to meet and network with senior Rolls-Royce executives.

their company’s capabilities presented in an Inside Rolls-Royce Indirect Procurement with the MAA supplier capabilities brochure published at the visit.

tours of Rolls-Royce's operational hub, technology development and heritage areas.

About the MAA

The Midlands Aerospace Alliance (MAA) was set up in 2003 and now has 300 members. The MAA board includes senior managers from Meggitt, Moog Aircraft Group, Rolls-Royce and UTC Aerospace Systems as well as elected supply chain representatives and key regional partner bodies. The Chairman, elected in 2017, is David Danger, Managing Director, UTC Aerospace Systems - Marston Aerospace and the Vice Chairman is Peter Smith, Chief Executive and Chairman of Nasmyth Group Ltd.

Members directory

The MAA member capability directory will help you identify world-class Midlands partners and suppliers for your aerospace programmes and projects -- available for on-line search and as a downloadable document published each summer.

Become a member

As a member of the MAA you will be joining a unique organisation that supports companies in the Midlands to develop new aerospace technologies, improve their competitive performance and win new business. Companies outside the Midlands are welcome to join the MAA as associate members.